Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sonic resonator system and a method of using the system which is useful in therapeutic, cosmetic or aesthetic, diagnostic, exploratory and other medical procedures, particularly where a relatively non-invasive procedure is needed. The sonic resonator system and its method of use provide a controllable high intensity sonic impulse, which may be in the form of a compression or rarefaction wave applied to a given target tissue or anatomical structure, to cause a significant therapeutic or other physiological effect.

Abstract: The system comprising an object to be tested, with the object has a structural resonant frequency. A vibration analyzer sends a signal through the object to a signal receiver. The signal receiver sends the data to a processor and a data storage device. A cooling chamber is used to cool the object to a specified temperature, and then allows the object to return to ambient temperature. A second vibrational test is performed and the data is compared with the first vibrational test to determine the effectiveness of the thermal treatment of the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasonic stress measurement method of measuring a residual stress of a measuring target layer in a measuring object using an ultrasonic wave, the method comprising, setting a plurality of vibration modes according to a number of degree of freedom of the measuring target layer in the measuring object, performing, for each vibration mode, a measurement operation of emitting an ultrasonic wave corresponding to the set vibration mode to the measuring target layer, receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by the measuring target layer, and measuring an eigenfrequency of the measuring target layer, and measuring the residual stress of the measuring target layer based on plural measurement data of the eigenfrequency with respect to each vibration mode obtained by the measurement operation. The residual stress of the measuring object thus can be measured at higher accuracy.

Abstract: A switched resonant power amplifier system for ultrasonic transducers is disclosed. The system includes an amplifier that receives and processes a driver output signal for generating a drive signal that is provided to an ultrasonic device for controlling output of the ultrasonic device. An output control circuit receives and processes a signal related to a feedback signal generated by the ultrasonic device and a divider reference signal, and generates a compensated clock signal that is adjusted for at least one of phase and frequency differences between the received feedback signal and the divider reference signal. A compensated drive circuit receives and processes the compensated clock signal for generating the divider reference signal, and for generating the driver output signal.

Abstract: A new and improved metallurgic treatment and verification system and method. The system comprising several components in combination. First provided is an object to be tested. The object has a structural resonant frequency. Next provided is a vibration analyzer having a signal sending component and a signal receiver. Lastly provided is a cooling chamber having an enclosed space therein. The method comprises performing a first vibrational test on an object, and then cooling the object. The object is cooled for a specified amount of time and then allowed to return to ambient temperature at a rate determined by the physical characteristics of the object. A second vibrational test is performed and the data is compared with the first vibrational test to determine the effectiveness of the thermal treatment of the object.

Abstract: Systems and devices for testing or inspecting the integrity of package closure seals using contact and non-contact ultrasonic systems wherein a relative movement is created between a package seal and at least one ultrasonic transmitting transducer and at least one receiving transducer such that ultrasonic energy is focused so as to be transmitted toward and along a length of the seal from the transmitting transducer to the receiving transducer in a gaseous environment to thereby monitor energy signals which are analyzed to provide an indication of the seal integrity.

Abstract: A method for testing or inspecting the integrity of package closure seals using contact and non-contact ultrasonic systems wherein a relative movement is created between a package seal and at least one ultrasonic transmitting transducer and at least one receiving transducer such that ultrasonic energy is focused so as to be transmitted toward and along a length of the seal from the transmitting transducer to the receiving transducer in a gaseous environment to thereby monitor energy signals which are analyzed to provide an indication of the seal integrity.

Abstract: A noncontact physical property measurement instrument which easily and accurately measures physical properties of an object using a nondestructive, noncontact sensor. A noncontact physical property measurement instrument 1 is provided with a transmitting section 21 and a receiving section 22. The transmitting section 21 sends a wave to an object 41 in a medium 100, and the receiving section 22 receives a wave reflected from the object 41 and the surface of a coating 42. Both the transmitting section 21 and the receiving section 22 are connected to a gain change correction circuit 13 to form a self-excited oscillating circuit 11 serving as a feedback loop. The gain change correction circuit 13 corrects the gain to the increase side according to a phase difference between the sent wave and the reflected wave, to thereby measure any changes due to a difference in physical properties of the object 41.

Abstract: In a vacuum processing chamber, a monitoring arrangement for detecting when a substrate is sufficiently dechucked by an electrostatic clamp to allow safe movement thereof by a transfer mechanism such as a pin lifter. The monitoring arrangement includes an acoustic generator which outputs a sound wave at the resonant frequency of the substrate and the dechucking condition is detected when the sound wave is adsorbed by the substrate. The arrangement can be used during processing of wafers such as plasma etching or chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: A semiconductor post-polishing processing apparatus and method employing a non-optical wafer sensor for detecting the presence of a semiconductor wafer within the processing stations. The apparatus comprising a wet processing station, a wafer transport track, and the non-optical sensor. Preferably, the non-optical wafer sensor is a transducer, and most preferably, a piezo element, which emits and detects sound waves. The sound waves are reflected back to the emitter signaling the presence of a semiconductor wafer. The signal is sent to a receiver linked to a processor which is adapted to move a wafer holder situated at the end of the transport track to receive a wafer in the next available empty slot of the holder. The non-optical wafer sensor is impervious to slurry and CMP residue, film build-up, bubbles, wafer color/hue variations, and other wet environment problems.

Abstract: A nondestructive testing apparatus is provided with a wave transmitter by a metal-based magnetostrictive vibrator, a magnetically excited current feeding device for feeding the magnetically excited current to the magnetostrictive vibrator, a wave receiver for detecting an acoustic elastic wave propagating through the measurement object, a filter for extracting a signal in a target frequency band to be measured, and an automatically amplifying rate controlling function-equipped amplifier for automatically controlling the amplifying rate so as to obtain a given magnitude amplitude regardless of the magnitude of the reflection wave or the transmission wave detected by the wave receiver, which constitute a feedback loop.

Abstract: A vacuum conveyor for transporting articles across a space wherein the conveyor belt for the vacuum conveyor has a plurality of equally spaced apart fluid passageways formed therein and wherein a one way valve is installed in each fluid passageway so that when one of the fluid passageways is exposed to a vacuum source to hold an object on the conveyor belt the object will be held on the conveyor belt until a sufficient force is applied to the object to separate the object from the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A bottle testing apparatus for testing bottles for flaws of a predetermined magnitude, the bottles having a predetermined bottle configuration and having at least one natural frequency comprising a sound system which produces sound of a character sufficient to rupture one of the bottles having a flaw of at least a predetermined magnitude but insufficient to rupture one of said bottles not having a flaw of at least said predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: A workpiece support assembly in a processing chamber, the assembly including a support member having an upper surface to be contacted by a workpiece and a lower surface located opposite the upper surface; and a workpiece position monitoring system mounted on the lower surface and isolated from the interior of the chamber for detecting contact between the upper surface and a workpiece at each of a plurality of individual locations on the upper surface. The workpiece position monitoring system consists of a plurality of electroacoustic signal transducers mounted on the lower surface of the support member for generating acoustic waves in the support member and receiving reflected acoustic waves. The intensity of acoustic waves reflected from the upper surface is monitored to determine the position of a workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer, on the support member.

Abstract: New physical principles are used to determine the number of inventory goods on a store's display shelves. One principle involves transmitting waves (mechanical, sound or ultrasound) thru an unknown number of goods resting on an insulated plate. Another principle to determine the unknown mass is the inertial response caused by mechanical vibration. By measuring the reflected waves or response time, a computer or processor can determine the steady state condition. For the absorption method, the device receives waves and determines when the phase angle difference (between the transmitter's wave profile and the receivers' average wave profile) is zero. This zero phase angle means a standing wave exists in the insulated plate and its goods. By subtracting the intensities of the waves (transmitter minus receivers' average) the total absorption energy can be determined.

Abstract: A nondestructive inspection method predicts the lifetime of a measured object. A measured object is made to vibrate, and there is obtained a frequency difference .increment.f between a frequency of a nth-order spectrum and a frequency of a (n+1)th-order spectrum of any one of longitudinal waves, transverse waves and distortional waves generated in the measured object when the measured object is made to vibrate. It is possible to predict lifetime of the measured object by detecting degree of deterioration of the measured object based on a relational curve representing the frequency difference .increment.f and the circumstances of use of the measured object.

Abstract: In a process for finding the value of parameters which change the resonance frequencies of microstructures wherein the microstructures include at least one membrane mounted at its periphery and wherein at least one resonance frequency of the microstructures is between 100 kHz and 100 MHz, the frequency of the characteristic resonance frequency of the microstructures is detected by exposing the microstructures to ultrasound and measuring the intensity of the ultrasound transmitted through, or reflected from, the microstructure and the value of the parameter is then determined by means of a calibration curve.

Abstract: A method for monitoring turbine blade vibrations comprises the step of transmitting a continuous wave of microwave energy toward a rotating row of blades. Each passage of an individual blade tip through the path of the continuous wave produces a signal indicative of the time at which each passage occurs. The signal is then monitored and analyzed to detect blade vibrations. The signal can be based on a standing wave or a reflected wave.

Abstract: A method for measuring properties of a cold rolled thin steel sheet, comprising the determination, by using a resonant electromagnetic ultrasonic wave sensor for a standing wave, of the ratio of a thickness resonant frequency of a transverse ultrasonic wave propagating within a cold rolled thin steel sheet in the direction of thickness while polarized in a direction parallel to the direction of rolling to a thickness resonant frequency of a longitudinal ultrasonic wave propagating within the cold rolled thin steel sheet in the direction of thickness, and the ratio of a resonant frequency of a transverse ultrasonic wave propagating within the cold rolled thin steel sheet in the direction of thickness while polarized in a direction normal to the direction of rolling to a thickness resonant frequency of a longitudinal ultrasonic wave propagating in the direction of thickness, and approximately determining the Young's modulus and the Lankford value according to a computing formula using the resultant two measured

Abstract: This invention defines a combined inspection procedure using ultrasonic techniques for detection of hydrogen attack damage in material. The procedure comprises an initial scanning procedure for locating areas suspected of being damaged by hot hydrogen. The initial scanning procedure is a pattern-based backscattering test that provides a pattern which is classified as falling within at least one of four backscattering pattern category types. Follow-up test procedures based upon the pattern type are then performed. These tests include spectrum analysis, velocity ratio, spatial averaging backscattering, and frequency dependence for assessing whether the material has hydrogen attack damage and the extent of hydrogen damage in the suspect areas. Should hydrogen attack damage be identified, the velocity ratio and spectrum analysis tests can then be used to determine mechanical properties of the hydrogen attack damaged material.

Abstract: Method for determining at least one characteristic of a casing cemented in a borehole, such as cement bond and casing thickness, from a reflected acoustic signal S(t) obtained by directing an acoustic pulse at a substantially normal incidence towards a radial sector of the wall of the casing, the pulse stimulating thickness resonance within the walls of the casing. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of: determining a first time window corresponding to a first portion of signal S(t) including the initial reflection from the casing and subsequent acoustic returns due to resonance, determining a second time window corresponding to a second portion of signal S(t) mainly including the initial reflection from the casing, and determining the casing characteristic from information related to resonance contained in the first time window while normalizing the information by information contained within the second time window.

Abstract: In measuring a distribution of crystal grains in metal sheet, an exciting frequency of ultrasonic wave is determined such that a wavelength of the ultrasonic wave propagated in a direction of the sheet thickness of the grains each having an aimed orientation is set at a value of twice the thickness of the sheet multiplied by about integers or about half integers, burst-like ultrasonic pulses having this frequency and including two or more waves are directed into the direction of the sheet thickness by use of an ultrasonic probe moving relatively with a body to be measured, multiple reflected waves generated from the bottom and top faces of the metal sheet upon the reflection from the sheet surface are caused to interfere with each other, the multiple reflected waves, which have interfered with each other, are detected, orientation of the grains in the metal sheet are estimated from the magnitudes in amplitude of the interferent multiple reflected waves thus detected, and the distribution of the grains in orie

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting degradation in wood by applying acoustic waves along the wood grain and measuring the bandwidths and frequencies or standing wave resonances induced in the wood as the frequency of the applied waves is varied. Good quality wood exhibits a substantially harmonic relationship between the frequencies at which resonances occur and the bandwidths of the resonances are relatively small.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, monitoring sound-conducting media wherein sound vibrations are transmitted to and absorbed by the sound-conducting medium. The frequency of the transmitted sound vibrations periodically pass through a predetermined frequency range. During an evaluation period the course of any one of the amplitude or phase of the received sound vibrations are compared with the course of the amplitude or phase during one of the preceding evaluation periods, and when there occur predetermined deviations of both amplitude courses or both phase courses from one another there is triggered an alarm signal.

Abstract: This invention is a CW ultrasonic device for measuring frequency shifts of the peak of a mechanical resonance in a body. One application of the device is measuring the strain in a bolt. It also has other applications such, for example, as measuring the thickness of a body, measuring the depth of a flaw in a body, measuring the elongation of body and measuring changes in velocity of sound in a body. The body is connected, by means of a CW transducer, to electrical circuit means including a narrow band RF amplifier to form a closed loop feedback marginal oscillator that frequency locks the device to the peak of a mechanical resonance in the body. Thereafter, when the frequency of this peak changes, because of a physical change in the body, the frequency of the oscillator changes. The device includes an automatic frequency resonant peak tracker that produces a voltage that is related to a change in frequency of the oscillator.